ATLANTA — The Philadelphia 76ers had a chance late against the Atlanta Hawks on the road on Sunday. They trailed the Hawks 118-117 with 2.5 seconds left after both Joel Embiid and Quentin Grimes missed two pretty open looks, but were on the wrong end of a tough no call.
The Hawks got the ball inbounds to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and it appeared he established possession before he went into the backcourt and was fouled by VJ Edgecombe. It looked like it should have been a backcourt violation and Philadelphia’s ball, but the officials viewed it one way before Alexander-Walker knocked down two free throws. Grimes missed at the buzzer and the Sixers fell to the Hawks 120-117.
“We didn’t really get an explanation,” Embiid said of the no call after the loss. “From my point of view, it looked like a backcourt because he already had possession of the ball, so I don’t know.”
Coach Nick Nurse was trying to run to the officials to try and challenge the call, but he was told he was unable to.
“I was trying to see if I could challenge the foul and if they could back up to call the violation and I was not allowed to do that,” Nurse said. “I don’t know if that’s true or not. I probably should’ve since I had two left, maybe, to look at, but he said it wasn’t challengeable. That play, but the explanation was he didn’t see it as a backcourt.”
As far as the final possession is concerned, the Sixers got a good look for Grimes. After the timeout, Nurse drew up a play for him in the corner and Kyle Lowry threw a great pass, but the ball just went in and out.
“It was a great look,” Grimes said. “Nick drew up a good play for me coming off the flare, PG (Paul George) coming over the top, and VJ (Edgecombe) set a great screen. Kyle threw a great pass. I got a great look. It just didn’t fall.”
The Sixers got a tough break in Atlanta, and they will now have another four days off before facing the New York Knicks on the road on Friday.